A common misconception of achievement is to turn the mind off in order to get where we need to go.
“Ignore it, focus on where you’re going.”
“Don’t think about it and it will seem like it’s not there at all.”
“Pretend it’s not a thing and it won’t be.”
Although these are indeed handy mental tricks that could come in useful under the right circumstance, believing they are willpower is disillusioning. Fortitude and willpower are not the same thing; fortitude is strength, willpower is self-control. Self-control does require strength yet is not strength alone.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF WILL POWER
- Bounded. Bounded Willpower is limited to a timeframe, endgame, or mental checkout. Following a difficult day, Bounded Willpower lends us to believe our willpower has an expiration date or time.
“I’ve had a really bad day. I’m tired of trying, too tired to fight anymore. I’m not going to do anything other than sit here, eat ice cream and binge-watch my show.”
- Regenerative. Regenerative Willpower builds and compounds the more it’s utilized. Following a difficult day, Regenerative Willpower lends us to believe that nothing is powerful enough to stop us.
“I’ve had a really bad day. I’ve made it this far, there’s no way I’m giving in now; would make the whole day’s effort a waste.”
Everyone has some form of willpower. Successful people have Regenerative Willpower.
CAUTION: THE SUBTLE BACKLASH OF WILLPOWER
- Bounded. Bounded backlash breeds the innate demand for comfort. Comfort as a staple instead of a reward, is a debilitating side effect of Bounded Willpower.
- Regenerative. Regenerative backlash can result in a false sense of security. Constantly pushing toward a goal or outcome can lull a person into over-achievement, over-working or many other extremes that can cripple good intentions with an over-sensationalized sense of drive.
Willpower is essential to success; success is determined by your goals, your goals are determined by your drive, your drive is determined by your beliefs, your beliefs are determined by your experience. Willpower can be equally as elusive as success itself. Hiring a Qualified Coach is one of the greatest tools a professional can obtain. Tapping into the right kind of willpower requires heightened perspectives that should be derived from you, for you, and through you. Coaches are established to set the stage for you to assess, analyse and process, training you to poke holes in your own theories with the sole purpose of obtaining sound, well-rounded thoughts that have substance and value. Successful people have Coaches.
